Trap



Feb. 1 2 1924.

W. J. HAMILTON TRAP FiledDec. 14.

Sil

Patented Feb. l2,

TRAP. t

Application filed December 14, i922. Serial No. 606,912.

To all iti/1.0m t may concern.:

Be it known that l7 lli'tnnmi J. Haerin- 'rorn a citizen ot the United States, residing at Chololoslree, in the county of Lee and State ot Flori da7 have invented certain new and useful linprrwements in Traps; and l do hereby declare the following to be full, clear, and exact description ot the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to animal traps ot the type embodying ooacting pivoted jaws, an operating spring and a hinged trip7 and has tor its object the provision of an i1nproved structure whereby to simplify the constructioin render the action more certain and positive and prevent escape of the animal after being caught.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent and suggest themselves as the nature ot the invention is understood.

lhile the drawings illustrate an embodi ment ot the invention it is to be understood that in adapting the. same to meet diierent conditions and requirements, various changes in the iorm7 proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the natiufe of the invention.

Referring to the accoinj'ianying drawings forming a part oit the application7 Figure l is a top plan view ot a trap ernbodying the invention, showing the sa me set,

Figure 2 is an end view,

Figure I-l a section on the line S13-3 of Figure l, and

Figure 4; is a sectional view taken on the plane :indicated by the line ll-ll of Figure l.

Figure 5 is a detail view showing the inner corners of the trip plates extending through the slot in one oil the jaws when the trap is sprung.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in the several views of the drawings by like reference characters.

The trap embodies a :traine which, as

shown, consists of a bar l having its ends or lugs 2 upturned, and a crosspiece 3 disposed centrally of the bar l and adapted to have a chain or other connection attached thereto 'tor preventing the animal when caught 4troni limping off with the trap.- Companion jaws l are pivoted to the upturned ends 2 of the frame so as to swing outwardly and down wardly in opposite directions. The grip- 'freeing itselt when caught.

ping' elements of the jaws are toothed as indicated at 5 so as to preventthe animal Yfrom A leaf spring (i is attached midway of its ends to the upper side of the frame l and its end portions curve upwardly and are provided with longitudinal slots 7 which are adapted to receive opposite elements of the jaws Ll, when the trap is sprung and the jaws are closed.

A trip eoacts with the aws to hold them open when the trap is set. This trip consists of eonipleinental plates 8 hinged at their inner or abutting edges as indicated at 9. Each of the plates 8 is provided with outwardly disposed journals l() which obtain bearings in the end elements of the jaws. It will thus be understood that the plates 8 open and close with the jaws and when the latter are closed, the inner corner portions of the plates extend through the slots 'l and 7 of the spring 6. Blocks 1l are disposed upon the lower side of the trip and overlap the joint formed between the plates 8 and are attached as by rivets l2 to one of said plates and are free of the companion plate but in contact therewith when the trap is set. The blocks ll function as stops to limit the upward movement oit the plates 8 at their jointed edges, thereby holding the trap set. The blocks l1 in no wise prevent the plates 8 from breaking joint downward and the springing of the trap when pressure is exerted upon the trip, as when an animal steps thereon. When the trap is set, the hinge joint 9 is slightly above a straight line passing through corresponding journals l0. A s soon as the joint 9 is moved downwardly beyond the straight lines passing through the journals 10, the spring reacts and snaps the jaws and plates to grip and hold the animal. To permit the trap to be anchored in position, a chain 13 is secured to the cross piece 3.

What is claimed is:

l. A trap having a bar provided with upturned lugs adjacent the ends thereof, an

operating leaf spring secured to the bar intermedi ate the ends of the bar7 coacting jaws pivoted to said lugs, trip plates hinged together and surrounded and carried by the jaws, and said spring being slotted adjacent opposite ends to normally engage said lugs and to receive the adjacent cornery p0rtions of the trip plate when the trap is sprung.

2. A trap having a bar provided with upturned lugs adjacent the ends thereof, an operating leatn spring secured to the bar intermediate the end of the bar, coasting aws pivoted to said lugs, trip plates hinged together on an axis located above the axes or" the jaws, said jaws surrounding and carrying said trip plates, said jaws in a set position adapted to assume positions in downwardly divergent relation to each other, stops carried by one oie the trip plates and engageable by the other trip plate to limit movement of the trip plate to the aforesaid position, and said spring being slotted adja cent opposite ends to normally engage said lugs and to receive the adjacent corner portion of the trip plate when the trap is sprung.

In testimony whereof ax my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BRUCE STORTER. 

